Yeah, I know it has been a year since I posted. A lot has changed. A lot has stayed the same! I got married which was fantastic. Leyton Orient went from being unbelievable (in the best sense of the word) to being unbelievable (in the worse sense of the word) Oh and my band has released an album!!
I am still a Tamoximoron and often feel about 30 years older than I am.
I will be posting a catch up in the next few weeks. Expect a moan fest!!!!
But I am posting this, as it is something close to my heart.
When I first posted my blog I was contacted by a fellow Breast Cancer person (I don’t use the word sufferer ) who also had diabetes as well. Sarah Mendoza has been an inspiration to me since then and we have both supported each other.
Since I have known her, she has been concerned about the lack of support for kids, who have loved ones with cancer and I have offered some support for this. I am proud to say that I am on the steering committee of Kidz United, but make no mistake, this is down to the guts and determination of one person
Look, it will probably be better if I let Sarah explain this in her own words
Sarah wants to raise funds to create a drop-in, in West London, to support children & young carers who have a seriously ill parent or loved one
Sarah Mendoza, is a 45 year old Type II Diabetic, Volunteer youth worker/ artist & mum of two girls (Kayleigh, 24 and Sophia, 10) & a supportive friend to many, was diagnosed with aggressive early stage breast cancer September 2009, followed by a stage 3 recurrence July 2012. November 2014 Sarah underwent corrective surgery on her left reconstructed breast, as well as preventative mastectomy on her remaining right breast. She is now in remission, but still receiving treatment (Tamoxifen) in hope of the cancer never returning.
Sarah is known for her pro-active optimistic approach to her journey with breast cancer. She is using her experience with cancer to make improvements in support for children/young carers in the UK.
In 2009 Sarah went in search of support for her two daughters, she soon realised that the support was non existent.
She realised that there was nothing to help combat how her two girls were feeling. On investigating to why there were no support groups for children/ young carers in the UK, she was told by various organisations & medical staffs, that they were aware of the hole in support for families with children, but it was down to her if she believed a support group was needed within her community.
Due to the fact there was no support for her daughters Sarah went in search of a distraction. As a cancer patient money was a major factor in what Sarah could do. Yet she was determined that her cancer journey would not leave a negative impact. For her youngest daughter Sophia she created a hobby they could share, named Paint C Out, which meant combining Sarah’s skills as a self-taught artist and her youngest daughters’ new hobby collecting selfies/autographs from stars off the big screen and stage in central London.
Paint C Out is now having an Art/photo exhibit of their journey at Tabernacle, Notting Hill, 35 Powis Square, off Portobello Road, London W11 2AY
http://www.tabernaclew11.com/paint-c-out highlighting how they as a family painted cancer out when no support was available.
But this is not enough for Sarah she is also intending on walking 400 miles from London to Scarborough, August 1st, 2015. To help raise awareness to the issues children/ young carers face in the UK & to raise funds to create the drop in so desperately needed in West London.
She will also be walking the catwalk @ The Show with 31 other breast cancer survivors for http://breastcancercare.org.uk October 7th, 2015 @ Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel, Park Lane. Which I also did in 2012 .
Sarah’s youngest daughter Sophia, told an actor.
“There is plenty for big people, but nothing for little people!”
We need this to stop and the drop in centre in West London is the first step to hopefully make having more of them.
Sarah has started a Go Fund Me page http://www.gofundme.com/wc4rxt7f
All funds raised from this page and her walk and the selling of her paintings will go into creating http://www.kidzunitedagainstcancer.org that would act as a rest bite and provide activities that the whole family can be involved in.
Sarah & Sophia created this video to highlight the issue of isolation & fear during their long journey with cancer.
I am so proud to know Sarah and be a part of this amazing project
Love peace and veggie pork pie from Holland & Barrett
Doug
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